Seat structure



Sept. 11, 1962 A. B. CLARK, JR

SEAT STRUCTURE Filed March 9, 1961 INVENTOR.

ALEXANDER B. CLARK, UR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent I 3,053,569 Patented SeP 1 1 3,053,569SEAT STRUCTURE Alexander B. Clark, Jr., Rte. 4, Box 2012,Hendersonville, NC. Filed Mar. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 94,520

6 Claims. (Cl. 297-111) This invention relates to seat structure andmore es pecially to a stadium seat constructed essentially of corrugatedcardboard and the like.

While stadium seats of various types have been constructed employing asingle cardboard blank, none have been constructed using reinforcingtape to make it possible for the cardboard thus reinforced to supportthe weight of the user without the use of more expensive materials. Theinvention is also concerned with the providing of a useful cardboardseat construction which could be used for advertising purposes or soldinexpensively at outdoor events such as football and baseball games.

An important object of the invention, therefore, is to provide aninexpensive stadium seat of simple construction which may be madeessentially of cardboard and yet effectively support the weight of theuser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stadium seat of lightconstruction which may be easily folded and carried by the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expandable stadium seatwhich may be used as an advertising medium.

Yet another important object of the invention is the provision of astadium seat which may be constructed of cardboard and so reinforcedthat a uniform resilient support is provided for the back of the user. 5

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

@The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating a blank from which a stadium seatconstructed in accordance with the present invention is made,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating a seat structure inaccordance with the present invention in sitting position,

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation illustrating a seat in accordance with thepresent invention in folded position, and

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevation illustrating the seat in folded position.

\Referring more especially to the drawing, a cardboard seat structure isillustrated as being formed of a single elongated substantiallyrectangular blank having longitudinal fluting or corrugations. Atransverse score A in the blank separates the blank into a back restportion B and a seat portion C. A pair of substantially V-shapedinwardly extending opposed cutout portions D are provided in themarginal portions of the blank. It will be noted that the apex of theV-shaped cutout portions are adjacent the transverse score A. Scores Eintersect adjacent each such apex forming marginal flaps and reinforcingmeans in the form of tape F joins the flaps across the V-shaped cutoutportions so that the seat and the back are biased toward closedposition. Thus, when the back and seat portions, B and C, respectively,are open the flap portions are yieldingly pulled inwardly thus urgingthe back portion B resiliently against the back of the user. A pluralityof spaced elongated reinforcing means G are inserted into the flutingadjacent the rear of the seat portion C, preferably in a second seatportion H which is suitably scored and folded under the seat portion Cto provide extra thickness for the seat.

[FIGURE 1 illustrates a blank which may be formed by stamping same outof cardboard with the fluting or corrugations running longitudinallythereof. The scored line A divides the blank into a b ack portion B anda seat portion C. The back portion B has a cutout por tion 10 foraccommodating a tab 11 (FIGURE 2) which is attached to the reinforcingtape F for securing the back and seat portion together in foldedposition. When in seating position, the tab 11 is accommodated within acutout portion 13 in the seat portion C. It will be noted that'theV-shaped cutout portions 'D are provided with recesses 14 adjacent theiroutside ends for accommoclating the reinforcing tape F. The reinforcingtape F may be of any suitable type and one suitable type has been found'to be Scotch brand filament tape No. 880 supplied by Minnesota Miningand Manufacturing Company, of Saint 'Paul, Minnesota. The scores E,which run generally longitudinally of the blank, include scores 15 whichextend at right angles to the transverse score A. Intermediate scores 16are further provided in the back B so that the flaps defined by thescores along the marginal portion of the blank, more nearly conform tothe back of the user.

A second bottom portion H is illustrated in the drawing for providingadditional thickness and it is folded under the seat portion C. Shouldthe rear portion of the seat C extend a little beyond the rear of thestadium seat the reinforcing means G, provided in the form of elongatedflat nails inserted in the fluting 17, prevent crushing of the carboard.The second thickness H is provided with a slit score 1701 and issuitably glued to the seat C as at 18. Suitable scores 16a are providedconforming to the scores 16 within the seat portion C. An opening '19opposite the openings 10 and 13, is provided for inserting a linger ofthe user for carrying the seat.

It is apparent that, when in use, the pressure exerted by the back ofthe user against the back B and the seat C will cause the flaps definedby the scores E to move inwardly against the resiliency of the cardboardaffording extra support for the body of the user. Scuffing 20 may beapplied to the seat to prevent slipping of the user thereon. If desired,a foam rubber cushion (not shown) could be glued into the seat toprovide further comfort for the user. The seat structure of the presentdevice may be used to carry literature and the like for mailing purposeswith slight modification. The mailing package may then be used as a seatby the recipient of the literature, thus enhancing its value as anadvertising piece.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

*1. A folding cardboard seat structure including, an elongatedsubstantially rectangular blank having longitudinal fluting, atransverse score in said blank forming a seat and a back portion, a pairof substantially V-shaped inwardly extending opposed cutout portions inthe marginal portions of said blank, the apex of each of said V-shapedcutout portions being adjacent said transverse score, longitudinalscores intersecting adjacent each such apex and forming marginal flapsin said blank, and reinforcing means joining said flaps across saidV-shaped cutout portions, whereby when the back and seat portions areopened to form a seat the flap portions are pulled inwardly across thereinforcing means and biased tow d closed position.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, in which said reinforcing meansis reinforcing tape extending entirely across the rear of said seat fromthe medial free end of the seat portion adjacent the outer edge of saidflaps to the medial end of the back portion, whereby when the seat isclosed the tape lies flat against the cardboard.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, in which said scores include, ascore perpendicular to said transverse score spaced from each edge ofthe seat, and a score intermediate each perpendicular score and theadjacent edge of the seat.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, in which a tab is cut from saidblank adjacent one end thereof, attached to said blank and received by acorresponding opening adjacent the other end of said blank.

5. The structure set forth in claim 2, in which spaced elongatedreinforcing members are inserted in the seat corrugations adjacent saidtransverse score, whereby support is provided should the rear of theseat move off its support.

6. A folding cardboard seat structure including an elongatedsubstantially rectangular blank having 1ongitudinal fluting, atransverse score in said blank forming a seat and a back portion, saidseat structure having a first transporting position wherein said seatand back are parallel with each other, and a second position whereinsaid seat and back are at substantial right angles, said blank having apair of substantially V-shaped inwardly extending opposed cut-outs alongthe marginal portion of said blank, the apex of each of said V-shapedcut-out portions being adjacent said transverse score, adjacentlongitudinal scores intersecting each apex and forming marginal flaps insaid blank, and connecting means affixed to said seat and back portionsspanning each of said cutouts for holding the respective edges of eachof said cutouts in substantially fixed relationship With each other asthe seat is folded from said first position to said second position, theflap portions are pulled inwardly because of said connecting means,whereby a bucket-type seat is formed in which the back and seat arebiased toward closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,270,598 Morgan Jan. 20, 1942 2,607,400 Witz Aug. 19, 1952 2,759,527Myrick Aug. 21, 1956 2,806,514 Smith Sept. 17, 1957 2,825,391 UnderhillMar. 4, 1958 2,940,511 Gomes June 14, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 459,000 GreatBritain Dec, 31, 1936

